System and method to implement concurrent orthogonal channels in an ultra-wide band wireless communications network

ABSTRACT

A system and method for media access control are disclosed. The method comprises providing concurrent orthogonal channels to access media using pulse division multiple access to define pulse positions, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels. In addition, the method comprises processing signals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels.

BACKGROUND Field

This application relates generally to communications, and morespecifically, to media access control for concurrent orthogonal channelsin ultra-wide band communication.

Wireless devices in a wireless communication system may communicate withone another via signals having frequencies within a given radiofrequency band. Provisions may be made to prevent transmissions from onedevice from interfering with transmissions from another device. Forexample, some systems employ media access control that allows only onedevice to use a given medium (e.g., a radio frequency band) at a time.One way of accomplishing this is to enable each device to check themedium to determine whether another device is currently transmittingover the medium. If the medium is in use, the device will delaytransmitting until a later time when the medium is not in use.Alternatively, some systems use a signaling technique such as spreadspectrum that modifies transmitted signals to reduce the likelihood oftransmissions from one device interfering with simultaneoustransmissions of another device within the same frequency band.

Techniques such as these may be employed in a variety of wirelesscommunication systems. An example of such a wireless communicationsystem is an ultra-wide band system. Ultra-wide band (UWB) technologymay be used, for example, in personal area network (“PAN”) or body areanetwork (“BAN”) applications. An access scheme for some wireless PAN orBAN applications may need to support a variety of device withsignificantly different requirements. For example, for some devices itis important to consume as little power as possible. In addition, agiven device in a network or different devices in a network may supporta wide range of data rates. Consequently, the access scheme may need toprovide relatively robust, yet flexible, functionality.

SUMMARY

A system and method for media access control are disclosed. The methodcomprises providing concurrent orthogonal channels to access media usingpulse division multiple access to define pulse positions, wherein thepulse division multiple access includes a time hopping sequence and anoffset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels. In addition,the method comprises processing signals associated with at least one ofthe orthogonal channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of exemplary aspects of acommunication system employing media access control for concurrentorthogonal ultra-wide band channels according to one aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing exemplary aspects of operations that maybe performed to provide media access control for concurrent orthogonalultra-wide band channels according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of exemplary aspects of acommunication system including several wireless devices according to oneaspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of exemplary aspects of operations that may beperformed to establish one or more concurrent orthogonal channels in anultra-wide band wireless communications network according to one aspectof the invention.

FIG. 5 is a simplified timing diagram of exemplary aspects using thetime hopping sequence and time hopping offset to generate exemplarypulse positions.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of exemplary aspects of atransmitting processor adapted to support concurrent orthogonalultra-wide band channels according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of exemplary aspects of a receivingprocessor adapted to support concurrent ultra-wide band channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention are described below. It should beapparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety offorms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosedherein are merely representative. Based on the teachings herein oneskilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein maybe implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or moreof these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, anapparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using anynumber of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatusmay be implemented or such a method may be practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition toor other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. Furthermore,an aspect comprises at least one element of a claim.

In some aspects a media access control scheme enables two or moredevices to communicate over a common communication medium. For example,a spectrum of an ultra-wide band-based wireless PAN or BAN may bedivided into channels in time-space. These channels may be defined, forexample, to accommodate different types of data, different data rates,different qualities of service, or some other criteria. In such achannelization scheme, various techniques may be employed to set up thechannels and make use of the channels.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of exemplary aspects of acommunication system employing media access control for orthogonalchannels in ultra-wide band channels according to one aspect of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, communication system 100 includescommunication devices 102 and 104 adapted to establish one or morecommunication channels 106 with one another. To reduce the complexity ofFIG. 1, only a pair of devices is shown. In practice, the system 100 mayinclude several devices that share the communication medium byestablishing one or more other channels (not shown in FIG. 1).

The devices 102 and 104 include media access controllers 108 and 118,respectively, for providing access to the communication medium. In oneaspect, the media access control architecture involves defining andimplementing a network topology scheme, an addressing scheme, achannelization scheme (e.g., a channel access scheme), and a mediaaccess control state and control scheme. To provide such functionality,the media access controllers 108 and 118 may include an addressingscheme selector 110 and 120, respectively, a pulse division multipleaccess controller 112 and 122, respectively, and a state controller 114and 124, respectively, as well as other components (not shown in FIG.1).

Furthermore, an addressing scheme selector 110 may be used to define anaddressing scheme for a given channel. Here, unique addressing may beprovided for messages associated with a given channel while reducingpower and bandwidth requirements. For example, in one aspect, messagingfor a given channel may employ a source address that is shorter than thenetwork device address of a corresponding transmitter. In addition,messaging for a given channel may employ a destination address that isshorter than the network device address of a corresponding receiver. Inan alternative aspect, messaging for a given channel may not employ asource address, a destination address, or source and destinationaddresses. In this case, a unique signaling scheme may be defined forthe channel such that a receiver may identify data destined for thatreceiver by simply analyzing the unique signaling scheme associated withreceived data.

In one aspect, a state controller 114 may be used to define and maintainvarious media access control states. For example, the media accesscontrol may employ one or more relatively low power states when data isnot being transmitted and may employ higher power states when data isbeing transferred. In some aspects, these different states may beassociated with different levels of duty cycle, different knowledge ofchannel parameters, and different levels of channel synchronization.

The devices 102 and 104 also include signal processors 116 and 126,respectively, for processing signals associated with the channel(s) 106.For example, the signal processors 116 and 126 may process and/orgenerate signals to be transmitted over a channel. In addition, thesignal processors 116 and 126 may process signals received over achannel.

In one aspect, a pulse division multiple access (PDMA) controller 112may be used to define and implement an ultra-wide band pulse divisionmultiple access channelization scheme. In an ultra-wide band system, thedata rate may be relatively small compared to the spectrum bandwidth.Through the use of pulse division multiple access, the media accesscontrol may define several channels that concurrently coexist withlittle or no interference between the channels. Consequently, the mediaaccess control may independently define a channel, without coordinatingwith a coordinator or a central controller. For example, the devices 102and 104 may independently establish several channels 106 andconcurrently send data over the channels 106. In addition, otherneighboring peer devices (not shown) may independently establish otherchannels that are operated concurrently with the channel(s) 106.

Moreover, through the use of pulse division multiple access the mediaaccess control may efficiently support different types of applicationswith different types of data and different data rates. For example, onechannel may support asynchronous (e.g., bursty) data while anotherchannel supports streaming data such as audio and/or video that isreceived at regular intervals. Advantageously, these channels mayoperate concurrently, with each channel having little or no effect onthe operation of the other channel.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 showing exemplary aspects of operations thatmay be performed to provide media access control for concurrentorthogonal ultra-wide band channels according to one aspect of theinvention. For convenience, the operations of FIG. 2 (or any otherflowchart herein) may be described as being performed by specificcomponents. In practice, these operations may be performed inconjunction with and/or by other components.

In block 202, one or more of the devices may establish (e.g., define)one or more ultra-wide band channels. For example, in some aspects adevice (e.g., device 102) may independently define a channel.Alternatively, a device may cooperate with a peer device (e.g., device104) to define a channel. As discussed above, in one aspect, thedevice(s) may establish orthogonal channels in accordance with a pulsedivision multiple access scheme.

In block 204, a device may thus provide access via media access controlthat supports concurrent orthogonal ultra-wide band channels. Asdiscussed above, in one aspect, a media access controller may operateindependently to provide access. Alternatively, one or more of thedevices in the system 100 (shown in FIG. 1) may function as a centralcontroller or provide similar functionality to coordinate access to thecommunication medium. In some scenarios, one device may naturally play acentral role in a wireless personal area network. For example, a user'shandset may be a coordinator or a master of a number of peripheraldevices such as a headset, a cell phone, and a media player. In oneaspect, the coordinator or master functionality may be implemented inhigher layer protocols or profiles.

As shown in block 206, a signal processor may process signals associatedwith one or more of the channels. For example, a signal processor mayprocess signals to be transmitted over a channel and/or process signalsreceived from a channel in accordance with the signaling scheme asdiscussed above. Thus, a signal processor may generate data pulses to betransmitted over the channel and/or extract data from pulses receivedvia the channel. In this way, data may be sent between peer devices viathe channel(s).

Improved media access control performance also may be achieved throughthe use of an ultra-wide band pulse division multiple access scheme. Forexample, given that multiple channels may be operated concurrently andindependently, the media access control may maintain a given level ofquality of service for one type of channel irrespective of any datatransmissions associated with any other channel in the system. The useof a pulse division multiple access scheme also may serve to furtherreduce the complexity of the media access control. For example, themedia access control may not need to perform multiplexing operations asmay otherwise be required in a media access control scheme that onlyallows one device to communicate over a communication medium at a giventime. Moreover, the media access control may not need to performassociated reliability operations such as retransmissions,acknowledgments, and error checking.

With the above overview in mind, additional details of variousoperations of a sample media access control scheme will now be discussedin the context of a communication system employing several ultra-wideband wireless devices. Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300where several UWB wireless communication devices 1 through M (where M isa positive integer) 302, 304, 306, and 308 are adapted to establishwireless communication channels 1 through Z (where Z is a positiveinteger) 310, 312, and 314 with one another. The flowchart 400 of FIG. 4illustrates sample operations that may be used to establish concurrentorthogonal channels. To reduce the complexity of FIG. 3 selected aspectsof the devices are only illustrated in conjunction with the device 302.It should be appreciated, however, that the other devices 304, 306, and308 may incorporate similar functionality.

In FIG. 3, the devices 302, 304, 306, and 308 communicate via apulse-based physical layer. In some aspects the physical layer mayutilize ultra-wide band pulses that have a relatively short length(e.g., on the order of hundreds of nanoseconds, a few nanoseconds, orsome other length) and a relatively wide bandwidth. In some aspects anultra-wide band system may be defined as a system having a fractionalbandwidth on the order of approximately 20% or more and/or having abandwidth greater on the order of approximately 500 MHz or more.

The device 302 illustrates several components that may be used todefine, establish, and communicate over one or more concurrentorthogonal ultra-wideband channels. For example, channel establishercomponent 336 (e.g., implementing functionality of the PDMA controller112 shown in FIG. 1) may be used to define and/or select different pulsedivision multiple access (“PDMA”) signal parameters for differentchannels. In a PDMA scheme, the timing of pulses (e.g., the pulsepositions in time-space) for the channels may be used to differentiateone channel from another. Here, through the use of relatively narrowpulses (e.g., pulse widths on the order of a few nanoseconds) andrelatively low duty cycles (e.g., pulse repetition periods on the orderof hundreds of nanoseconds or microseconds), there may be sufficientroom to interlace pulses for one or more other channels between thepulses for a given channel.

The device 302 may establish a channel independently or in cooperationwith one or more of the other devices 304, 306, and 308 in the system300 (block 402). In one aspect, a device may be configured to establisha channel with another device by initially communicating with the otherdevice over a known discovery channel. Here, the device seeking toestablish the channel may send preliminary messages (e.g., pollingmessages) over the known channel. In addition, each device in the systemmay be configured to periodically scan the known channel for anypreliminary messages. Once preliminary communications are establishedbetween two or more devices over the known channel, the devices mayperform an association procedure whereby the devices learn therespective capabilities of each device. For example, during anassociation procedure each device may be assigned a shortened networkaddress (e.g., shorter than a MAC address), the devices may authenticateone another, the devices may negotiate to use a particular security keyor keys, and the devices may determine the level of transactions thatmay be conducted with each device. Based on these capabilities, thedevices may negotiate to establish a new channel for subsequentcommunication.

As represented by block 402 in FIG. 4, the device(s) may obtain (orselect) a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for the concurrent orthogonalchannel. Furthermore, in block 404, the device(s) may obtain (or select)a time hopping sequence for the concurrent channel. In an UWB system,devices could access the media by transmitting pulses at pre-specifiedpositions. These positions are defined by a pulse repetition frequency(PRF) and a time hopping sequence. In one aspect, the PRF defines agroup of periodic pulse positions, called the canonic pulse positions.In this aspect, the value of PRF may vary dramatically, depending on thedesired data rates, from 10 kHz to 10 MHz. In addition, the reciprocalof PRF, called pulse repetition interval (PRI), is therefore between 100ns and 100 us. As such, the positions of pulses could be determined bythe combination of PRF and time hopping sequence to provide hoppedpositions that are no longer periodic, preventing periodic pulsecollision from occurring.

In block 406, the device(s) may obtain (or select) a time hopping offsetfor the concurrent orthogonal channel. In block 408, a pulse positionwould be defined using a combination of the PRF, the time hoppingsequence, and/or the time hopping offset. In one aspect, once the PRF isdetermined, the period between the canonical pulse positions is dividedinto N time hopping slots. As such, the time hopping sequence is thus asequence of t_(i)ε{0, 1, . . . , N−1}, such that for pulse number i, theactual pulse position is in slot t_(i). In other words, the PRF and thetime hopping sequence are used to determine the first concurrentchannel.

Furthermore, in one aspect, when the device wants to set up a secondconcurrent channel, it would select a scalar variable called the timehopping offset. In this aspect, using the same PRF and time hoppingsequence, the actual pulse position of pulse number i could bedetermined by ((ti+time hopping offset) MOD N). Therefore, the pulsepositions of the second channel would not the same as the pulsepositions of the first channel; and vise versa, the pulses of the secondchannel would not collide with the pulses of the first channel. In otherwords, pulses sent to the two concurrent orthogonal channels would notcollide. The technique can be extended to set up the third channel, thefourth channel, and up to the N^(th) channel, as long as each additionalchannel selects a different time hopping offset value.

In an alternative aspect, the device(s) may select and use a staticscalar value, a non-scalar value, or a value that changes over time asthe time hopping offset. Furthermore, the device(s) may select a timehopping sequence based on one or more device-related parameters or otherparameters. For example, a time hopping sequence may be very long suchthat a relatively large overhead would be associated with sending thetime hopping sequence from a transmitter to a receiver over thecommunication medium. Thus, to avoid transmission of the sequence, thedevices (incorporating the transmitter and receiver) may derive thesequence as a function of parameters known by the devices. For example,a sequence generator 328 (shown in FIG. 3) may derive a time hoppingsequence based on one or more parameters relating to the channel such asan address of a device that establishes the channel (e.g., a transmitterand/or one or more receivers), a channel number, a sequence number, asecurity key, or any combination thereof. In other words, the sequencegenerator 328 may derive a time hopping sequence based on at least oneof the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiver address, achannel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key. In someaspects the channel number, the sequence number, or the security key maybe generated or assigned by the device(s).

FIG. 5 is a simplified timing diagram 500 of exemplary aspects using thetime hopping sequence and time hopping offset to generate exemplarypulse positions. To simplify the discussion, FIG. 5 illustrates anexample of a configuration with two channels 502 and 504. As shown inthe figure, pulses 506, 512, and 514 are transmitted to Channel 1 502,while pulses 508, 510, and 516 are transmitted to Channel 2 504.Furthermore, the pulse repetition interval is 200 ns (nanosecond) with2-PPM (pulse position modulation). In other words, if the pulse occursin the first 100 ns of the pulse repetition interval, the transmittedbit will have a value of zero (0). On the other hand, if the pulseoccurs in the second 100 ns of the pulse repetition interval, thetransmitted bit will have a value of one (1). As shown in FIG. 5, thetransmitted bit for pulses 506 and 510 have the value of zero (0)because pulses 506 and 510 occur in the first 100 ns of their respectiveintervals. In addition, the transmitted bit for pulses 508, 512, 514,and 516 have the value of one (1) because these pulses occur in thesecond 100 ns of their respective intervals.

In FIG. 5, the time hopping offset (denoted as THOffset) for Channel 1is 0 and for Channel 2 is 5. Furthermore, the number of time hoppingslots is 10, and each time hopping slot has a duration of 10 ns(nanosecond). As an example, the pulse position of pulse 510 is computedusing the following general formula: pulse position=(time hoppingsequence+time hopping offset for the channel) MOD the number of timehopping slots. The MOD operation is represented in FIG. 5 with thesymbol “%”. Applying specific values to the general formula, theposition of pulse 510=(6+5)%10=1. Furthermore, using the same generalformula, the position of pulse 512 is 6. As such, pulses 510 and 512 canbe sent to Channels 1 and 2 (502 and 504 respectively) at differentpulse positions without colliding.

In one aspect, the pulses have a relatively short length and arelatively wide bandwidth. For example, the length of the pulse has abroad range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs (microsecond). Inone aspect, the length of the pulse has a preferred range of about 0.1ns (nanosecond) to about 10 ns (nanosecond).

The teachings herein may be incorporated into a variety of devices. Forexample, one or more aspects taught herein may be incorporated into aphone (e.g., a cellular phone), a personal data assistant (“PDA”), anentertainment device (e.g., a music or video device), a headset, amicrophone, a biometric sensor (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a smartband-aid, a pedometer, an EKG device, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), a userI/O device (e.g., a watch, a remote control, a light switch, etc.) orany other suitable device. Moreover, these devices may have differentpower and data requirements. Advantageously, the teachings herein may beadapted for use in low power applications (e.g., through the use of apulse-based signaling scheme and low duty cycle modes) and may support avariety of data rates including relatively high data rates (e.g.,through the use of high-bandwidth pulses).

In one aspect, two or more of these devices may independently establishcommunication with one another to exchange various types of information.For example, a user may carry several of these devices (e.g., a watch, acell phone, and a headset) wherein data received by one device may beprovided to another device for more effective presentation to the user.

The components described herein may be implemented in a variety of ways.For example, referring to FIG. 6, a transmitting processor 600 includescomponents 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, and 622that may correspond to, for example, previously discussed components108, 116, 320, 114, 330, 324, 326, 328, 334, 336, and 336, respectively.In FIG. 6, a receiving processor 600 includes similar components 702,704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, and 722. FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate that in some aspects these components may be implemented viaappropriate processor components. These processor components may in someaspects be implemented, at least in part, using structure as taughtherein. In some aspects a processor may be adapted to implement aportion or all of the functionality of one or more of these components.In some aspects one or more of the components represented by dashedboxes are optional.

In addition, the components and functions represented by FIGS. 6 and 7,as well as other components and functions described herein, may beimplemented using any suitable means. Such means also may beimplemented, at least in part, using corresponding structure as taughtherein. For example, in some aspects means for transmitting may comprisea transmitter, means for receiving may comprise a receiver, means forproviding access may comprise a media access controller, means forprocessing signaling may comprise a signal processor, means forestablishing a channel may comprise a channel establisher, means forscanning channel(s) may comprise a channel scanner, means for generatinga sequence may comprise a sequence generator, means for selecting anaddressing scheme may comprise an address selector, means forcommunicating may comprise a communication module, means forsynchronizing timeslots may comprise a timeslot synchronizer, means fortransitioning state may comprise a state controller, means for providingcongestion control may comprise a congestion controller. One or more ofsuch means also may be implemented in accordance with one or more of theprocessor components of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Any of the above aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in manydifferent devices. For example, in addition to medical applications asdiscussed above, the aspects of the disclosure may be applied to healthand fitness applications. Additionally, the aspects of the disclosuremay be implemented in shoes for different types of applications. Thereare other multitude of applications that may incorporate any aspect ofthe disclosure as described herein.

Various aspects of the disclosure have been described above. It shouldbe apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide varietyof forms and that any specific structure, function, or both beingdisclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings hereinone skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed hereinmay be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two ormore of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, anapparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using anynumber of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatusmay be implemented or such a method may be practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition toor other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. As an exampleof some of the above concepts, in some aspects concurrent channels maybe established based on pulse repetition frequencies. In some aspectsconcurrent channels may be established based on pulse position oroffsets. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based ontime hopping sequences. In some aspects concurrent channels may beestablished based on pulse repetition frequencies, pulse positions oroffsets, and time hopping sequences.

Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signalsmay be represented using any of a variety of different technologies andtechniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout theabove description may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, and algorithmsteps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, ananalog implementation, or a combination of the two, which may bedesigned using source coding or some other technique), various forms ofprogram or design code incorporating instructions (which may be referredto herein, for convenience, as “software” or a “software module”), orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implementedwithin or performed by an integrated circuit (“IC”), an access terminal,or an access point. The IC may comprise a general purpose processor, adigital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or otherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discretehardware components, electrical components, optical components,mechanical components, or any combination thereof designed to performthe functions described herein, and may execute codes or instructionsthat reside within the IC, outside of the IC, or both. A general purposeprocessor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processormay be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or statemachine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in anydisclosed process is an example of a sample approach. Based upon designpreferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy ofsteps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within thescope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims presentelements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to belimited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theaspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and relateddata) and other data may reside in a data memory such as RAM memory,flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a harddisk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablestorage medium known in the art. A sample storage medium may be coupledto a machine such as, for example, a computer/processor (which may bereferred to herein, for convenience, as a “processor”) such theprocessor can read information (e.g., code) from and write informationto the storage medium. A sample storage medium may be integral to theprocessor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.The ASIC may reside in user equipment. In the alternative, the processorand the storage medium may reside as discrete components in userequipment. Moreover, in some aspects any suitable computer-programproduct may comprise a computer-readable medium comprising codesrelating to one or more of the aspects of the disclosure. In someaspects a computer program product may comprise packaging materials.

While the invention has been described in connection with variousaspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of furthermodifications. This application is intended to cover any variations,uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention, and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within the known and customary practicewithin the art to which the invention pertains.

1. A media access control method, comprising: providing concurrentorthogonal channels to access media using pulse division multipleaccess, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a timehopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonalchannels; transmitting on a first one of the channels at first pulsepositions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of the firstpulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetition intervaland each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the samenumber of pulse positions; transmitting on a second one of the channelsat second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulsepositions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positionsfrom the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the numberof pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and processingsignals associated with at least one of the orthogonal channels.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the concurrent orthogonal channels areultra-wide band channels that support pulses that have a relativelyshort length and a relatively wide bandwidth.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the relatively short length has a range of about 1 ps(picosecond) to about 1 μs (microsecond).
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: sending pulses on one of the concurrent orthogonalchannels at defined pulse positions associated with that concurrentorthogonal channel.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the offset isbased on a number of supported concurrent orthogonal channels.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: defining pulse positions based onthe time hopping sequence and the offset.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the pulse positions are further defined based on a number oftime hopping slots.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the offsetcomprises a static scalar value.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theoffset comprises a value that changes over time.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein the offset comprises a non-scalar value.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the time hopping sequence is defined based on at leastone of the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiveraddress, a channel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key.12. The method of claim 1 wherein during a first one of the pulserepetition intervals, a first one of the first pulse positions occursprior to a first one of the second pulse positions and during a secondone of the pulse repetition intervals, a second one of the first pulsepositions occurs after a second one of the second pulse positions. 13.An apparatus for providing media access control, comprising: a mediaaccess controller adapted to provide access via media access controlthat supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse divisionmultiple access to define pulse positions, wherein the pulse divisionmultiple access includes a time hopping sequence and an offset todistinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; a transmitter configuredto: transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positionsspecified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulsepositions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval andeach of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the samenumber of pulse positions; and transmit on a second one of the channelsat second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulsepositions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positionsfrom the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the numberof pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and a signalprocessor operatively coupled to the media access controller, andadapted to process signals associated with at least one of theorthogonal channels.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein theconcurrent orthogonal channels are ultra-wide band channels that supportpulses that have a relatively short length and a relatively widebandwidth.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the relatively shortlength has a range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs(microsecond).
 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein pulses are sent onone of the concurrent orthogonal channels at defined pulse positionsassociated with that concurrent orthogonal channel.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the offset is based on a number of supportedconcurrent orthogonal channels.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13, whereinthe pulse positions are defined based on the time hopping sequence andthe offset.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pulse positionsare defined based on the time hopping sequence, the offset, and a numberof time hopping slots.
 20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the offsetcomprises a static scalar value.
 21. The apparatus of claim 13, whereinthe offset comprises a value that changes over time.
 22. The apparatusof claim 13, wherein the offset is a non-scalar value.
 23. The apparatusof claim 13, wherein the time hopping sequence is defined based on atleast one of the group consisting of: a transmitter address, a receiveraddress, a channel identifier, a sequence number, and a security key.24. An apparatus for providing media access control, comprising: meansfor providing access via media access control that supports concurrentorthogonal channels using pulse division multiple access to define pulsepositions, wherein the pulse division multiple access includes a timehopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonalchannels; means for transmitting on a first one of the channels at firstpulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each of thefirst pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetitioninterval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided intothe same number of pulse positions; means for transmitting on a secondone of the channels at second pulse positions separated in time from thefirst pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulsepositions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset andthe number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; andmeans for processing signals associated with at least one of theorthogonal channels.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theconcurrent orthogonal channels are ultra-wide band channels that supportpulses that have a relatively short length and a relatively widebandwidth.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the relatively shortlength has a range of about 1 ps (picosecond) to about 1 μs(microsecond).
 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the offset isbased on a number of supported concurrent orthogonal channels.
 28. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein the pulse positions are defined based onthe time hopping sequence and the offset.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28,wherein the pulse positions are defined based on the time hoppingsequence, the offset, and a number of time hopping slots.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein the offset comprises a static scalarvalue.
 31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the offset comprises avalue that changes over time.
 32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theoffset is a non-scalar value.
 33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein thetime hopping sequence is defined based on at least one of the groupconsisting of: a transmitter address, a receiver address, a channelidentifier, a sequence number, and a security key.
 34. A headset,comprising: a media access controller adapted to provide access viamedia access control that supports concurrent orthogonal channels usingpulse division multiple access that includes a time hopping sequence andan offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; atransmitter configured to: transmit on a first one of the channels atfirst pulse positions specified by the time hopping sequence, each ofthe first pulse positions occurring during a different pulse repetitioninterval and each of the pulse repetition intervals being divided intothe same number of pulse positions; and transmit on a second one of thechannels at second pulse positions separated in time from the firstpulse positions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulsepositions from the second pulse positions are based on the offset andthe number of pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and asignal processor operatively coupled to the media access controller, andadapted to process signals associated with at least one of theorthogonal channels; and a transducer adapted to generate soundrepresented by the processed signals.
 35. A watch, comprising: a mediaaccess controller adapted to provide access via media access controlthat supports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse divisionmultiple access that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset todistinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; a transmitter configuredto: transmit on a first one of the channels at first pulse positionsspecified by the time hopping sequence, each of the first pulsepositions occurring during a different pulse repetition interval andeach of the pulse repetition intervals being divided into the samenumber of pulse positions; and transmit on a second one of the channelsat second pulse positions separated in time from the first pulsepositions wherein amounts of time separating the first pulse positionsfrom the second pulse positions are based on the offset and the numberof pulse positions in each pulse repetition interval; and a signalprocessor operatively coupled to the media access controller, andadapted to process signals associated with at least one of theorthogonal channels; and a user interface adapted to generate anindication based on data represented by the processed signals.
 36. Asensing device, comprising: a media access controller adapted to provideaccess via media access control that supports concurrent orthogonalchannels using pulse division multiple access that includes a timehopping sequence and an offset to distinguish the concurrent orthogonalchannels; a transmitter configured to: transmit on a first one of thechannels at first pulse positions specified by the time hoppingsequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a differentpulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervalsbeing divided into the same number of pulse positions; and transmit on asecond one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in timefrom the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating thefirst pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on theoffset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetitioninterval; and a signal processor operatively coupled to the media accesscontroller, and adapted to process signals associated with at least oneof the orthogonal channels; and a sensor adapted to generate signalsbased on sensed data.
 37. A media access control computer-programproduct, comprising: a computer-readable medium encoded withinstructions executable to: provide access via media access control thatsupports concurrent orthogonal channels using pulse division multipleaccess that includes a time hopping sequence and an offset todistinguish the concurrent orthogonal channels; transmit on a first oneof the channels at first pulse positions specified by the time hoppingsequence, each of the first pulse positions occurring during a differentpulse repetition interval and each of the pulse repetition intervalsbeing divided into the same number of pulse positions; transmit on asecond one of the channels at second pulse positions separated in timefrom the first pulse positions wherein amounts of time separating thefirst pulse positions from the second pulse positions are based on theoffset and the number of pulse positions in each pulse repetitioninterval; and process signals associated with at least one of theorthogonal channels.